Students aspiring to become lawyers require a JD degree, which takes three years. Pre-law students often major in English, political science or psychology in order to develop reading, writing and critical thinking abilities.
A quality law school will offer programs and clinics that allow you to gain hands-on experience in the legal field before graduating, giving you a head start towards finding out which aspect of law most interests you.
New York City
Studying law in New York immerses you in one of the world’s most culturally and economically vibrant legal markets, offering ample opportunity for exploration across multiple practice areas and developing skillsets that will set you apart when entering the job market. Furthermore, New York hosts several top law programs like NYU School of Law and Cornell University School of Law which feature prominently among its list.
Studies in NYC offer more than just legal experience – they provide exposure to an environment in which 800 different languages are spoken! You will gain insights into how laws are applied to our modern-day society’s many issues and challenges.
As part of your preparation for a career in law, choosing an ideal law school is of utmost importance. To find your perfect fit, look for schools with stringent academic standards, excellent faculty and staff support and networking opportunities to explore various areas of legal study. Furthermore, take into consideration how successful graduates have been at finding employment after they complete their legal degree programs to determine whether it would fit with your career aspirations goals.
Researching law schools in New York can be time consuming and intimidating, so it is wise to do your research carefully before choosing one to attend. When making this decision, consider tuition rates, location and available concentrations so as to narrow down your choices more quickly.
Cornell Law’s Ithaca campus boasts an acclaimed law program known for its cutting-edge curriculum. Offering 23 clinical courses, externships and simulation courses that will equip you with real world experience sought by employers when hiring new recruits, the School of Law at Cornell is also famous for their “radical lawyering” which seeks to include those excluded by traditional legal systems from accessing justice.
Fordham University may have a reputation for partying, but this does not reflect its excellent bar passage rate or employment outcomes. Fordham emphasizes practical experience through internships and pro bono work to give their students an edge in an increasingly competitive job market. Fordham is also an ideal option for students interested in Environmental Law as its curriculum emphasizes this specialty area.
Upstate New York
For New York lawyers to become successful lawyers, first an undergraduate degree and then passing the Law School Admission Test are needed. After passing that step, law schools typically graduate students before taking the New York State Bar Exam; alternatively there may be alternative routes such as law office study or clerking at an attorney’s office that could help.
CUNY Law School stands as one of the premier law schools in the country, providing its students with an outstanding legal education. Boasting a highly ranked trial advocacy program and various concentration options to foster individual student growth, as well as numerous career services and opportunities, tuition at this law school may seem relatively high; however, some students receive grants covering full tuition.
Albany Law School in the New York area stands out with an acceptance rate just over 50%, providing students with small classes and close relationships between professors and students, giving students an exceptional legal education. Furthermore, Albany Law emphasizes practical experience as a means of increasing job prospects upon graduation.
Cornell Law School
Though not as highly-acclaimed as Columbia or Cornell, this Ivy league law school still enjoys considerable renown and respect. With an innovative curriculum that pushes the limits of legal education and offers courses on emerging subject areas, Cornell encourages its students to be innovative thinkers who leave an impactful mark in society – while its student body works tirelessly towards supporting each other and ensuring success for one another.
Fordham Law School in Manhattan boasts an outstanding trial advocacy program and wide array of concentrations, such as corporate law, intellectual property law, international law and family law. Fordham students excel in job market preparation as evidenced by high employment rates and first-time bar passage rates – they’re also recognized for their dedication to social justice and community service!
Boston
Boston is known as an epicenter of legal education and boasts several law schools, so it should come as no surprise that Boston draws in a diverse array of students looking for career advancement and professional growth. Law school programs in Massachusetts often include hands-on clinical field placements that provide valuable experience to help prepare students for a legal career in their desired area of practice.
Northeastern University School of Law in Boston is an ABA-accredited law school offering an innovative program combining classroom study with hands-on experience. Beyond its rigorous academic curriculum, this law school also provides experiential learning opportunities like internships and externships, in-house clinics, and pro bono projects – which enables graduates to leave with clear career objectives, extensive professional networks, and impressive resumes.
Additionally to its impressive scholarship offerings, this school also provides an impressive range of courses and seminars in health care law, intellectual property law, and more. Their curriculum is widely known and one of the most challenging around. As proof of their excellence, U.S. News & World Report listed them among their list of Best Law Schools for both health care law and intellectual property law respectively.
BU Law is an elite law school known for its intensely competitive application process, boasting an acceptance rate of 81% and providing many merit scholarships such as Public Interest Scholarship and Antiracist Scholarship for those committed to racial justice.
The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth’s American Bar Association-accredited law degree program boasts a low admissions rate and high bar passage rate, along with its small class sizes and close student community that are ideal for building strong networks among law students. Furthermore, 3+3 programs offered through undergraduate partners enable students to complete both degrees simultaneously in just six years!
Washington D.C.
If you’re planning to study law, developing and maintaining a solid professional network is of utmost importance. A strong professional network will enable you to secure employment, expand your practice area and grow as an attorney. There are various methods for building and expanding this network such as attending conferences and events, joining professional organizations or alumni networks; using tools like LinkedIn and Twitter are also useful in keeping in touch.
Capital City of the United States boasts many of the country’s most acclaimed law schools and is widely acknowledged for being an important hub for legal research and policy development. Many institutions that comprise this network rank amongst best law schools worldwide and play an essential role in shaping national legal debate.
Washington DC law schools provide students with programs spanning international and constitutional law to public interest law and environmental law, offering distinctive courses to give you an edge in the job market. They also provide externship opportunities so students can gain practical experience while honing their skills.
GW Law School is an esteemed legal education institution with an impressive curriculum and faculty of distinguished scholars and practitioners. Through clinics, externship opportunities, legal journals, pro bono opportunities and its robust pro bono program GW law students gain a comprehensive legal education.
Georgetown Law, situated just steps from the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court is renowned law school that consistently ranks in the top 15 law schools nationwide. Offering LLM, SJD and Certificate programs.
At our school, there are 11 clinical law programs spanning second and third year students; one open to second-year students only and seven open only to third year students. Together with practitioners-in-residence and faculty, these clinical law programs provide students with an innovative client-centric legal practice approach and serve a range of clientele such as immigrants and refugees as well as individuals facing family, consumer, disability or intellectual property problems as well as community groups and nonprofit organizations.